Peace on Earth...

It starts with each one of us...right now....

Try to reflect not what you see, rather what you would like to see ... and act in a manner to achieve it. Everybody had a bad year ... so ... a few suggestions from a place where Christmas means boiling in the sun and having tempers flare ... from someone that worked through this list already (shamefully sometimes)...

• Smile and wave at the person in the car cutting in before you...
• Allow someone else to take your parking space...
• Give people the right of way -- then they will not be tempted to cut in front of you where you are and anger you in the process -- they will also probably be very surprised at the gesture (some pleasantly -- others not -- smile at the last mentioned).
• Go and view a movie that you will hate but the rest of the family enjoy (and try not to fall asleep...). Remember something from that movie -- you Will be asked to comment on 'your favorite part'.
• Smile at the waiter in the restaurant (his/her feet are probably killing them) -- and actually See them -- look into their eyes. They would probably prefer to be at home -- so do not be stingy with your tip... Be sympathetic -- suggest they put their feet in salt water when they get home. Also remember -- they did not cook the food you are complaining about -- they just served it to you (their undeserving customer). So ask yourself whether it is really going to make your life better if you complained loudly about the slow service in a packed restaurant....
• Make the words 'please' and 'thank you' part of your vocabulary again -- especially if it can replace some unmentionable alternatives... We have a lack of respect in the world... bringing it back starts with everyone of us -- including you. And ladies -- allow gentlemen to open the car door for you (allow them to act like gentlemen) ... and say 'thank you' with grace and style. If you want to be treated with respect -- be deserving of it... Gentlemen, treat the lady in your life as if she was the crown jewels -- then she may actually become a jewel (if she is not already)...
• Look at the unhappy faces around you .. and say something friendly -- you are not at work now -- actually -- turn anger and dismay into kindness every day of the year. Your problems are probably more insignificant than theirs -- so check your facts before making assumptions.
• Not everyone has enough to eat -- give your left-over take-away to the people standing at the corner begging ... that could be you (but for the Grace of God). They may not be there to rob you -- you can see when people are hungry.Your dog should not have more to eat than they? Poverty and hunger does not know the word 'discrimination' -- it is color- and culture blind.
• Look for children and older people inadvertently left in cars in the hot sun -- offer to find the people that forgot them there -- give them water -- do not look away. Same goes for pets, even if they are not yours...
• Be there for family and friends -- you or I are not the center of the world.
• If you or I died tomorrow -- who would actually miss us? Who will cry? If the answer is 'nobody', we have some work to do, right?
• When last did you speak to your parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters -- they (like you and I) will not live for ever .. no matter how healthy we eat or how much we exercise....make the time.
• Would the world end if you spent Christmas Eve with your children and later ate the cookies and drank the milk....? The Calcium and protein is good for you and the sugar and starch will release endorphin's in your brain that will make you feel better about mankind in general. Remember to leave some cookie crumbs and the empty milk glass and add a note to say 'thank you' (changing your handwriting of course) -- it will be treasured for years to come. This is the time for all to us to believe in "'Father Christmas" and the "Tooth-fairy". As people with much education and professions and positions to match (if not exceed it), it should be easy to accomplish....If you are reading this -- you should be with your family and friends....Log off .. I am going to do so.

Finally --

Be kind to yourself .... you should have earned it... if not, do something about it right now -- you have 7 days before the New Year.

Tolerance starts with small, almost insignificant things. It is a way of approaching Life -- and it is noticed and imitated -- even if it is just by your children. Let's strive for Peace on Earth every day -- we'll never know it can happen if we never try...and yes -- it is fine if we put professional subjects away at this time of year ... some people really need to re-connect with 'humaneness'....

Keep well and stay alive -- believe it or not -- You Will be missed....Each one of you / us are unique and special with at least one exceptional gift to share with others... we just need to start acting that way (without being selfish or arrogant...). Then we may make a better world without even noticing.

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